From left: Rev Graeme Webb from New Zealand with war veterans Michael Griffin from Cobham, Tony Bere

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Arthur Moulder, Alan Guy and Ray Hilderley from Byfleet and Michael Griffin from Cobham returned from their trip to South Korea on Monday where they joined 120 veterans from around the country. Mr Moulder is an ex-Royal Fusiliers signaller, Mr Guy was in the Army Medical Corps, Mr Hilderley was a rifleman from the Shropshire Light Infantry and Mr Griffin was a machine gunner with the Royal Norfolk Regiment. The Korean War from 1950 to 1953 is often referred to as the ‘forgotten war,’ yet more than four million servicemen and civilians lost their lives. The nine-day trip to Korea brought mixed emotions of pride and sadness for the veterans but they had nothing but praise for the warm welcome they received from the Korean people. During the trip they revisited Panmunjorn where the peace treaty was signed and stood at the table which separates North and South Korea. All 120 veterans took part in a momentous uniformed march to Gloster Valley memorial at Sol Marie. They made an emotional return to the front line overlooking the battlefields where their comrades fell. Some of their comrades were buried in the Military Cemetery in Busan and the veterans paid homage to them and laid crosses and poppies at their graves. They visited the United Nations memorial, which lists the names of the men with no known graves. Mr Moulder said: “We lost good friends in no-man’s land and you always wonder where they got to. With some of our friends all we have is a name on a memorial and we will always wonder what happened. “We also found the graves of people we didn’t realise were there. Those things you never forget.” Mr Guy said: “It can help to go back and lay a nightmare to rest. “ It is a form of therapy.” Mr Griffin, Mr Guy and Mr Moulder were honoured during the trip with an invite to join 13 other specially selected veterans to join the New Zealanders and Australians to celebrate ANZAC day. The trip was particularly special for Mr Guy when a poem he had written was unexpectedly read out in front of all the veterans at the memorial site and the cemetery in Busan. Mr Guy wrote the poem after being woken by his thoughts in the middle of the night. He said: “I always had the feeling it was destined for something special. “It definitely was the highlight of my trip and when it was read out it brought a little tear to my eye.”